Gender Stereotype-Busting Clothes, Books, and Toys for Boys

In this book, Julián is intrigued by the ladies he sees at a Mermaid Parade, and wants to dress up like them — but what will Abuela think? The stunningly gorgeous book is the winner of the American Library Association's Stonewall Book Award for books about the LGBTQ experience. 

Boys, girls, if there's one thing that brings everyone to the table, it's pizza rolls. (Or sushi rolls, or crescent rolls...)

A collection of short, easy-to-read tales in the mode of Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, this collection celebrates men like Jim Henson, Alan Turing, Oscar Wilde, and Daniel Radcliffe — people who accomplished great things without using their brawn. 

This shirt celebrates the individuality of boys. Need proof? Check out the Instagram account for this shirt in action, and marvel over the sweet, caring, kind images of boys. 

Splitting the difference between a doll, a stuffed animal, and an action figure, Wonder Crew toys were designed by a psychotherapist to inspire empathy and nurturing in young boys. 

In this picture book, superheroes, ninjas, knights, and other manly men all have to process their emotions — they have fights with their friends, worry, and even cry. It shows that even the strongest boys shouldn't cut themselves off from their feelings.   

Because all colors belong to all children, this unisex shirt looks cool on any kid with attitude. You can also get this design on a bodysuit for babies, or in a softer shade of pink. 

Kimochis are dolls that are designed to help kids demystify their feelings. The cloud doll, pictured here, has a face that swivels between happy and angry. The feelings guide that comes with cloud teaches kids how to be mad without being mean. 

Casey, the main character in Sparkle Boy, loves to wear anything sparkly or glittery, just like his older sister. Though his classmates aren't so immediately accepting, Casey's parents are refreshingly supportive of his interest in all things shimmery. 

Not every boy wants to wear ferocious lions and tigers. Celebrate his kind spirit with this kitten shirt from Free to Be Kids, which makes clothes designed to go against gender stereotypes. 

If you want to give a toy that celebrates inner peace instead of war, these little green men show off their strength, flexibility, and calm with nine yoga poses. 

Svaha's clothes are also designed to break gender stereotypes — and are perfect for hand-me-downs between big and little siblings, no matter what the gender combos are. Who wouldn't love a pink race car shirt?

In this picture book, a boy who loves his construction vehicle and a boy who likes dolls figure out ways they can play together. The language of the book is also very simple, so it works for even the youngest readers. 

Pretend play is so important for building empathy, and this toy — named one of the Best Toys of 2018 by the Good Housekeeping Institute — lets kids nurture and care for animals. 

Let's give all the good fathers out there some credit for being amazing role models. We see them giving all those late-night snuggles!

Another toy that helps boys recognize their feelings, this set comes with six wooden eggs that each represent a different emotion, along with a Scrambled Feelings book that helps kids put a name to how they're feeling. 

Get a jump on teaching equality with this charming rhyming book, which reminds kids of simple truths, like there's no such thing as "boy" chores and "girl" chores, and strength comes from something other than muscles. 

Because of course they do. 

If you have a fan of the color pink at home, show him you're behind him all the way. (You can also get a "Pink Is For Boys" t-shirt.) 

In this book, a blue crayon wrapped in a red label suffers a crisis of identity, until it learns to be what it truly is inside. In addition to being a good story to open up conversations about the transgender experience, it's a lesson in shrugging off societal expectations. 

Looking for more? Find Boys Will Be, GoodHousekeeping.com's in-depth guide to raising boys, here.